The multi-millionaire’s buy-out of Ipswich Town five years ago was met with jubilation among fans dreaming of a return to the top-flight – something the ambitious Evans thought would be achieved by the time he marked his first half-decade.

But the Blues’ repeated failure at challenging for promotion has done nothing to diminish the owner’s passion or enthusiasm.

Those are the sentiments of chief executive Simon Clegg who admits the Evans’ era – from a footballing perspective – has so far been disappointing.

But Clegg insisted: “No one can point the finger and say it has been through any lack of investment in the squad. It has just not happened.

“If it was as simple as money in equals results out, we would be in the Premier League by now – and everyone would be doing it.

“If you judge, as most people will do, the success or failure of the club by what happens on the pitch, I will put my hands up and say it has not been as successful as we would have liked.

“But I don’t think you can purely take it from that perspective. You have to look at other things like re-establishing the academy and all the investment there, bringing Bryan Klug back, upgrading the Playford Road training facility to a high-performance centre.”

Evans was heralded as a saviour after buying cash-strapped Town in December 2007 when many feared they would slip into a second administration. But after dismissing Jim Magilton 18 months after he bought the club, Evans’ recruitment of Roy Keane and then Paul Jewell subsequently saw Town fail to challenge the top-six before Mick McCarthy was given the manager’s job last month.

Clegg admitted: “I certainly think his expectation was that Ipswich Town would have been in the Premier League by now.

“He is not used to that type of failure, but he is also a man who takes a long-term view and is in the privileged position of being able to take a long-term view.

“It is not all about short-term gain, though that is great. There are some variables and unpredictables in football and he recognises it is about building for the future.”

Ged, you're taliking nonsense. At one stage, Robson's team included 10 internationals in the 1st eleven with the only non-international being Paul Cooper (a pretty useful goalie by any standards). You clearly don't support our club and have never done so.

Well all the euphoria of a multi-millionaire takeover of the town has disappeared into oblivion, now why is this? Town lets face reality are a backwater club out in the sticks and if honest they are about their highest place in the football world, exactly where they are now. In the great past years of Ramsey and Robson they were fabulous managers who could get the best out of fairly average players and achieved stardom way above towns means. But now with a string of very poor managers including the one their now, the standard of football at portman road has dropped to a all time low. No players other than journeymen wanabees are able to be signed and the list of loanees just seems to grow every week. Add to this an owner who is never seen coupled with a businessman executive, who's only interest is in money and not football. So to sum up, do not think town will ever achieve anything near what they did in in the past and can only see the 3rd tier of football looming ever closer.

i fully support the owner,manager players including loanees at the club i do have some doubts about our c.e.o.i also think we are a million miles away from being a premiership side.ipswich till i die COYB.

Marcus Evans has the financial clout to play the waiting game. He knows only to well that in business Rome was not built in a day and we should all be grateful for his continued investment in the club we all love so much.

GED, your post is probably the worst I have seen on here. To call Robson's team full of average players is frankly ridiculous and undermines you. The 81 side was filled with internationals and contained the PFA player of the year and European footballer of the year. Thyssen, Muhren, Beattie, wark, brazil, mariner, gates, butcher, osman, mills and burley were all leading international stars by anyone's estimation. Cooper was only kept out of the England no 1 shirt because of Shilton. You clearly know nothing of the club or its traditions. Why waste your time making yourself look like a fool on here?

Ah, how to respond. Three questions:
1 - If Mr Evans is so committed to Ipswich Town - how come it's still massively in debt?
2 - If Mr Evans really wants success then how come half the first team are older players on loan due to go next month?
3 - Does Mr Evans understand that the team belongs to the fans - it's not an American ice hockey franchise?

Ah the wisdom of Ged, never watched a game in his life but manages to know everything about Ipswich Town?
Well done Mr. Evans, if it wasn't for you we'd have been wound up by now and the new club battling in the non leagues like Wimbledon and Aldershot were?